A Politico piece today predicts Democrat strategy in the campaign later this year. McCain has to make some decisions pretty soon. Victor Davis Hanson has a suggestion about the VP nominee that I agree with. McCain would be the oldest elected president. His VP will be a serious issue. First, McCain could die in office, either of age-related diseases or of the melanoma that he has had. Second, a weakness of McCain’s is the economy. That weakness is already being discussed. This is going to be a problem:
A case in point: As the economy was rising late last year as a major issue for voters, McCain in New Hampshire delivered this grenade, with its pin still in it: “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” he said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”
Who is an expert on the economy ? Well, how about Thomas Sowell? His comments are not very encouraging about politicians and economics. Maybe the best choice for McCain as VP would be Romney. He “loves data” and has been very impressive discussing the economy. Some of this will depend on the nominees of the Democrats. Cheney was perfect as a debater of nice guy Joe Lieberman in 2000. The next few weeks will tell who the Democratic nominees will be.
Personally, I think Obama will be it and his campaign thus far is content free. The best opponent for such an atmospherics campaign would be McCain. I don’t know that he can beat Obama but nobody knows what will happen in the next six months. Romney might be a very good opponent for Hillary; wonkish but personable. Maybe Romney had this in mind with his early and gracious withdrawal.
This guy thinks McCain can win.
All I am sure about is that Huckabee would be a disaster.
I just got an email from Moveon.org, just jam-packed with bullets on all of McCains positions before and during the war. Op research is in overdrive.
It’s going to be all about the war if Obama gets the nomination, I’ll bet.
I agree that McCain has got to go with someone sharp on economics and most definitely tighter on illegal immigration. If he selects a veep like this it will no dobut immediately bring back a lot of those in the conservative base who are stamping their feet crying that we won’t vote for him! It will not only reassure but will set the stage for the next election cycle with a builtin candidate that the party will have already seen in action.
Unfortunately, I think McCain will be too proud to ask Romney, and I have to wonder if Romney would be too prideful to accept….
Dana, I will bet you are correct, but I remember the “voodoo economics” attacks that GHW Bush made on Ronald Reagan in the primaries…and yet they ended up on the same ticket.
Despite how Reagan was viewed and portrayed at the time, he was a sharp, sharp man. His letters are worth reading for insights into his personality and approach to politics. He didn’t particularly attack other Republicans…because he was well aware of the problem to which you refer!